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Elijah Long, an American film actor turned producer and writer has produced blockbusters like Rambo, Tesla and many others. Born and brought up in Chicago, Elijah became the first African American to join Rambo as an executive producer. Starting his journey in front of the camera, he got to a place where he is today when he learned about his career inclination as he felt more at home when he was behind the cameras. Long’s strong belief in teamwork and in creating something different has earned him the success that he desires for. Here’s a small and very interesting discussion with Elijah where he throws light on the producer’s view of a film from a script to the big screen. As you read it, you’d know that it’s not just putting in money but an innumerable number of hidden elements that stays off the screen.
How did your journey as a producer begin?
My journey as a producer began with a thought that clicked me while being in front of the camera as an actor. When you are on the set, you see groups of people working so hard and doing their jobs relentlessly. This made me realize the importance of all the other elements in order for me to do my job as an actor. It made me more interested to find out a deeper level of filmmaking so I decided to write a script. I wrote one and to my surprise, people started liking it. That marked the turning point within me. I wanted to see the script on the screen. And that’s how it all began.
Among the movies that you have made, which one is your personal favorite and why?
I will have to say, it’s Rambo with Sylvester Stallone. I’m glad to be a part of that project. I remember watching that movie as a kid with my father, from there to become the first black producer to be on the franchise of the Rambo, it was a history made. I brought my partner Dorman Radcliffe, along as well. We were the first black producers to be a part of the franchise of Rambo.
We would like to know the process of movie-making in the view of a producer.
Well, there are so many different ways. One of the ways is the producer knowing a highly popular actor. The main thing the producer needs to do is have relationships, because if you don’t know anybody you can’t get anything to produce. I always tell people to not burn bridges. The people that may be on the lowest level when you come in, within no time, could be at the top. So, nobody is big or small; everyone is equal. Everybody is a part of the movie. Everybody is needed. Only after all these efforts can we see a movie like, Rambo!
The discussion all begins from the endless pages of the black and white script. This script then undergoes innumerable number of modifications at every single step, it might be by the producer, director or even the actors. Every one adds their element to it until a polished version of the script starts taking its shape. In parallel we have the complete planning of venue, team, timings, execution and all going on.
All right, so the planning of the movie is done and the blueprint is ready. Is your role done or are you still involved?
I wish the role of a producer was that easy! Haha! So, after the film is put together, we raise the money for the film which could be an independent film or we get a studio behind us to help with the production. All the logistics, locations, hiring talent, scheduling is then decided. There are various problems one can have while shooting a movie. For instance, if two actors are required to shoot a scene together, we have to schedule it in such a way that both actors are available at the same time and there is no clash with their other commitments. During the filming process, if the caterer comes and delivers the food for the crew late, that’s an hour more, that I have to pay the crew. If while shooting one day it starts raining which wasn’t expected, we lose half a day or more. The shoot might have cost me 100,000 USD but I have to shoot it again; so now I have 100,000 USD of loss. Once you film the movie, then you move to the steps of selling the movie. If it’s an independent movie like the one that I am making now, you have to get the distribution. The right amount of distribution is required so that you can pay back your financiers. So, it’s a constant effort and a producer has to be involved throughout.
Wow that’s mind-boggling! Well, a producer is one among the few who is going to put in money. What are the thoughts that you have before doing that? How do you plan the budgets and expected returns from a movie?
Once the script is finalized, you typically go to a sales agent with the script to decide on the budget. But it’s an evaluation of a script with no actors or directors. Adding bankable actors can increase the value of the script. Imagine you bring in actors like Jamie Foxx or Brad Pitt. That script now has more value. A $5 million movie can be made for $8 million if you have the right stars in it. To make sure I can get my investors the money back, I won’t make it go over $6 million. You then have product placement which can generate money which you don’t have to return. It also goes back to relationships. You can make a call and create an avenue for your project, thereby bringing awareness to your film and getting it sold.
What do producers see when they are finalizing the star cast?
Life! From a piece of paper, it takes an actor to bring the script to life and turn it into something magical. One moment you are looking at the actor deliver the master performance and then you’re looking at their box office numbers thinking if this particular actor is going to bring us certain demographics or not. A lot of times you get an actor and you fall in love with their acting and then the actor drops out. So now you’re trying to re-fall in love all over again. It’s a vicious process. There are cases where the directors are replaced in the middle of a movie or when an actor is forced to drop out of a project because he/she decided to go skiing a week before production and gets injured. Prepare for the unexpected. Producing in a nutshell is managing people and money.
Would you like to talk a bit about your educational background and does that influence your growth and actions now?
You know, I had the typical high school education. I may be part of the film industry now, but I didn’t go to a film school. You can go to a school and learn the technical aspect especially if you like to learn about cameras and the technicalities but when it comes to certain elements, there are things that can’t be learned like the stuff that you learn on the set. I have been on the lowest level of a set; I have been a coordinator, I have been the junior producer and the best learning happens in that stage. So, that’s how I learned; by doing it, not just talking about it!
I was homeless in New York City for almost 6 months I literally slept on 34th Street train station. Once it happened that I had spent the last five dollars on a pizza and I was sleeping on a street. When I woke up in the middle of the night, the sight I saw was my pizza being eaten by one of the biggest New York City rats. I somehow shooed it away but I had to throw the half that it had eaten. At that moment I said to God, “This is the absolute lowest I’ve ever been. So, anything else from here is just up”. I have put in my thousands of hours and I have reached where I am now.
Is there any movie that makes you feel, “I wish I would have made this” whenever you see it or hear about it?
Oh man, there are a plethora of movies that I wished I had made. Right now if you ask me, the movie that pops up in my mind would me be the one me and my wife were watching the other day named ‘As Good As It Gets’starring Jack Nicholson. I wish I had made that one. Jack Nicholson was brilliant in that movie and it won an Oscar. Another one would be The Dark Knight by Christopher Nolan or Pulp Fiction or The Departed. Man, the list is endless. I would also like to make something in Bollywood maybe with Shah Rukh Khan!
You have been exploring different parts of the world and now you’re in UAE. Some exciting stuff cooking in your mind?
So EOE (a surprise!) is my new venture that I am going to do with Dubai government which is a combination of education and entertainment at the same time. I want one week in Dubai a year to feel like it’s Oscar weekend. I want the brilliant minds of this region to use Dubai as their playground, feeling the electrifying energy and excitement of Art. They will learn the craft of filmmaking from the stars, and collaborate for a magical week of sharing ideas, interacting at amazing events, lavish parties, and learning all things film & television. You have the best actors, writers, producers and directors coming and sharing the experiences and giving the creativity to the younger generation. I’ll bring a lot of my friends to teach the next generation their skills and empower their knowledge. I just want to bring in that experience in person surrounded by the great people. Most importantly, it will be a great event of creation and collaboration as many cultures come together here.
As you said, you do it as you enjoy doing it. What according to you is the most exciting part of being a producer?
If you ask me, discovering young talent is the most interesting part of being a producer. I mean imagine you were the person who discovered Leonardo DiCaprio. How proud would you be right now because you found him as a young actor who was waiting for a chance to be seen. You see a twinkle in the eye and feel like they are the one. You watch them bringing the character to life which makes you so happy. So, it’s a creative process. It’s nerve-racking because of so many different pieces and things that could go wrong but it’s just so exciting to watch it all come together.
Would you like to talk about your upcoming movie? We are super excited about the preparations and after hearing all the hard work that goes behind, we are even more excited and waiting for the same?
My upcoming movie is North of the 10. While keeping the suspense intact, I’d just like to say that there are a lot of great people in this film and that is why I’m super excited about it. Everybody is going to see the collaboration of UAE stars and American stars coming together to make the magic happen. It’s coming with a very unique storyline. You just have you Stay Tuned with us.
What message do you have for our readers?
Just create! When in doubt, create. When in fear, create. A lot of beautiful creations comes out of your fear, it comes out of the things that traumatize you or it comes out of happy times. Sometimes just writing it down or just drawing that picture in your head can be therapeutic.